No.78 Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

This Winter Olympics saw approximately 2,900 athletes from a record 92 countries participating, from the opening ceremony on February 9 to the closing ceremony on the 25th.
I believe this Olympics had two notable features.
The first was the sudden decision for North Korea to participate, resulting in the formation of the first-ever joint team of South Korea and North Korea in women's ice hockey. The Olympics and Paralympics are festivals of sports and culture, but in the words of President Thomas Bach, the reconciliation between South and North Korea was repeatedly highlighted, giving this event a strong political tone.
The second feature was that Russia, which was implicated in systematic doping violations, was banned from participating as a nation by the IOC (International Olympic Committee).
Only athletes from Russia who proved their innocence were allowed to participate as individuals under the status of OAR (Olympic Athletes from Russia). While they won a total of 17 medals, two athletes in curling and bobsleigh were expelled for doping violations.
As such, the doping issue remains deeply rooted, and despite the efforts of the relevant organizations, it has not been resolved.
Japan has never had a violator in the Olympics, but this time, speed skater Kei Saito tested positive in a doping test and received a provisional suspension. The final decision on the sanction will be made after the Olympics, but if found guilty, he would be the first Japanese athlete to be sanctioned in the Winter Olympics. In September of last year, an incident occurred where canoeist Kōdai Suzuki put banned substances in a rival's drink, damaging the image of a clean Japan. I hope the country will work together to restore trust.
Despite these issues, the athletes' sincere attitude towards sports moved us.
The goal of the Japanese delegation, consisting of 124 athletes, was to win more than nine medals, including multiple golds. Their previous achievements were 10 medals at the Nagano Games and 8 at the Sochi Games, but this time they achieved a total of 13 medals: 4 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze, surpassing their goal and breaking previous records.
Every athlete participating in the Olympics has a touching story, but I was particularly moved by figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who made a miraculous comeback from an injury last November.

The Winter Paralympics this time were held from March 9 to 18, with approximately 570 athletes from a record 48 countries and regions participating in 6 sports and 80 events.
Similar to the Olympics, Russia was banned from participating as a nation in the Paralympics, but was allowed to compete as Neutral Paralympic Athletes (NPA).
The Japanese delegation had 38 athletes competing in 5 sports. While they won 6 medals at the Sochi Games, they achieved a total of 10 medals this time, including 3 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze, setting a new record just like in the Olympics.
I believe that the participation of people with disabilities in society reflects the cultural level of a country. In that sense, Japan's 9th place in the world for the number of medals won, amidst fierce competition from advanced winter sports nations, is a commendable achievement.
The Olympics and Paralympics will be held consecutively in East Asia, with the Tokyo Summer Games in 2020 and the Beijing Winter Games in 2022. This is advantageous for both athletes and television viewers, as there is no time difference. Let's all cheer together and receive dreams and inspiration!